Football has withstood criticism over how it handles the risk of brain damage. But the quarterback’s scary injury shatters any delusion about the sport’s safety.
The nightmare scenario played out in slow motion, to an audience of millions. On Sunday, after 24-year-old Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s head hit the ground hard on a tackle, he seemed unable to walk straight. Tagovailoa returned to the game after a brief medical evaluation and led his team to victory.